Nabokov's debut tough to follow

Published 4:00 am, Saturday, January 22, 2000

SAN JOSE - After three appearances totaling 117 minutes guarding the San Jose net, Evgeni Nabokov still hasn't surrendered a goal to someone wearing a different color sweater than his.

"It's a good first step. And it doesn't hurt if you stop every puck shot at you, too," said Sharks assistant general manager Wayne Thomas.

If anyone thought allowing his first NHL goal to teammate Stephane Matteau couldn't be topped, Nabokov proved them wrong with what he accomplished during his first NHL start Wednesday in Colorado.

The 24-year-old native of Kazakhstan, who was promoted from the minors to back up Steve Shields following the trade of Mike Vernon on Dec. 30, became the fourth goalie since the start of the 1995-96 season to record a shutout in his initial NHL start - a 0-0 draw in Colorado.

"You don't expect your goalie to get a shutout, but you expect him to play well and that's what he did," said coach Darryl Sutter, who wouldn't say if Nabokov would get Saturday's start against visiting Anaheim. San Jose also plays on Sunday, in Phoenix.

The Sharks drew criticism when a three-way deal to land gritty young forward Todd Harvey from the Rangers cost the security of a great 1-2 punch in goal. What would happen when San Jose needed to go to its untested No. 2 man?

"I don't know if it's criticism, people just don't know," Thomas said. "We have a very, very good feeling about our young goalies. We didn't feel it was a big risk. But there was doubt out there and there still is because it's a test over time."

Thomas knows something about making a splash in an NHL debut. As a rookie goalie with Montreal in 1972-73, Thomas, too, enjoyed a shutout in his first game. It came in Vancouver when the eventual Stanley Cup champs, who lost just 10 of 78 regular-season games, beat the Canucks, 3-0.

"I think I had less than 39 shots," said Thomas, who recollected stopping in the range of just 15.

One of three goalies on the Canadiens' roster at the time, Thomas got the call because Ken Dryden

had a bad back and backup Michel Plasse had the flu. He found out only hours before game time, and had to scramble to find a missing skate just before faceoff.

Thomas' shutout triggered a nine-game run in goal.

"The first time I lost, Dryden went back in and I was toast again," Thomas said.

No one is predicting a similar run for Nabokov, but his start is encouraging.

"It's a progression," Thomas said. "Since he's been over here he's developed more control over his game, more consistency. He showed a high level of play, but now he has to be consistent with it."

A longshot to reach the NHL as a ninth-round selection (219th overall) in 1994, Nabokov brought his game to North America and played two seasons with Kentucky of the AHL before starting the current campaign on loan to Cleveland of the IHL. All the while, Nabokov has been under the watchful eye of Warren Strelow, San Jose's goaltending consultant.

Nabokov has developed what Thomas terms "a combo" style of play, where he displays characteristics of both a butterfly and stand-up goalie. Thomas said Nabokov's athletic ability and Strelow's instruction have been key to his improvement.

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"You can tell people things but they have to experience and have success with it," Thomas said. "Playing goal is a passive position. You can't dictate what others are going to do, you have to react to them. If you start initiating, you're going to lose sometimes.

"He comes from a different game, a different culture," Thomas added. "He's learned the language pretty well and blends in well with the guys. I think he's come a long way." &lt;

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